Lower rail for venetian blinds



March 28,` 19,50 H. s. ROSENBAUM LowER RAIL FoR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Nov. 12, 1946 Mln/L @Rowdy Patented Mar. 28, 1950 .UN l T ED vS TATE S FIC-'E "LOWER RAIIJYFOR VENETIANBLINDS Harry .S.. Rosenbaum, Baltimore,` Md.

Application November 12, 1946,"Serial`No`709',174

v 4 Claims. (OLMO-.178)

yvision of-af bottom rail structure of ornamental `and attractive appearance which permits con- -ivenient,f.ready and `simple attachment to the vslot supporting tapes andthe cords from which the :Venetian blind. is suspended `without use of external attachingzmeans, such as tacks, and

" without necessitating the employment of tools for `13thezassembling.

Y. Other, further and more speciiicobjects of this invention will become readilyV apparent to persons :skilled in the.l art from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with" the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig..1 is a perspective view of thebottom rail,

" resting in' inverted position.

Fig.2 isla cross-sectionalong line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and in inverted position with reference thereto.

., Fig. 3 is a fragmental section through a portion :ofk a Venetian blind showing my improved bottom rail in relationtothe tapes, cords and slats of the blind.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

`Fig. 5 isa fragmental section along line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is aperspective view kof the novel clasp or fastening plate employed with myl invention.

The main portion of lthe rail comprises the yelongatedchannel 2, preferably of metal and poly- `gonal section. This channelis connectedtothe ycover 4 by the overlaps S'onthe flangesv 8. `At

each end of the bottom rail, thechannel contains the perforations I'which are in substantial alignmentvwith correspondingperforations I2 in the cover-14. As-.wellknownin the art, this end construction permits the attachment of a retaining cord to steady and thus prevent undue swaying of the blind.

The bottom rail is provided with a plurality of clasps or fastening plates I4, conforming in section closely to that of the channel 2. This clasp is provided with one or more hooks I6 and one or more inner protuberances I 8. These hooks I6 are adapted to enter spaced slots 20 in the side 22 of the channel 2 when the plate is attached to the rail, while the protuberances I8 enter the bores 24 in the side 26 of the channel 2 when the plate is pressed into clasping position against the rail. The plate I4 is formed with a central raised area 28, thus providing a defined passageway between plate and rail when the outer 'i portions'SU of4 the'plate rail in clasping'position Thisrzpassagewayaor rest.:direotliv against` the fclearancef isyof; a depth to: v:accommodatethe.: tape y 32: off the blind whileriholdingthis; tape .in secure position.

The cover 4 contains .thezperforationsfStprferablyalong itslongitudinaleaxis andfequally. spaced from theslots 2Uv in thechannelfZ. Thechannel cord `38 can :be I-readilyi passed :throughfrperforations 34 and 36 'and the `endffof .fcord 38 lthen knotted. The knot will spass i1.through.;,:larger perforation' .butwilliznot .passgthrouglrperionation 1134, .thereby a-iording :.a support t for v the 4bottom rail. :The slatszAIl aridmtheacross ladder r,ordinary types employedin Venetiannblinds.

. vMyv novel. lower.` rail constructionsadmits"'ready application thereof f. to Venetian? blinds,A particuflarly wherelthetapes .are=infloop.form. The .seam

; or. line of .attachment ofzthe tapes .toeeach other is. concealed byly the fastening'plate.

YIn using imy device,lthe cordss38 arerstpassed throughzthe.` perforationsi34:..and136L-'of .the-cover :.4. and :channel 2, :respectively, the endsffof ".the

cordsv arezthen knotte'dzianditheknots-:are drawn @through perforations 5.136. Each v.loop tape32flais thenplaced over theixbottomrof1channel2 Softhat l i then-middle :ofgeacht vtape .isfoventhe corresponding '..perforation `36. .The hooks .t6 .'ofthe" plates "I4 iarezthen inserted ',inftthe'slats: 20"0fithe: channel '2, the .tapesvZ being. held between: the'rhooks lI 6 'which serveaas Jguideszztopcenterzthe:.tapes. ABy

fpressingeachs claspzlagainst the channel, thef protuberances Inwill enterxtheperforations .26,1a'nd each tape l32 `twillsliexbetweemther'raised' portion -2 8'-r of.l the :claspi zand; the rchannelportionsl of` the rail. The tapes will be firmly held by clasps and the lines of junction between parts of the tapes will be covered.

This construction presents a very neat appearance and is also highly efcient in retaining the rail and tapes in proper relation to each other. The lower rail may be readily disassembled by prying against the edge 44 of each plate I4 upwardly, which will disengage the protuberances I8 from the perforations 26 and permit removal of the clasps or plates I4. The looped tape 32 may then be slid away from lower rail.

My lower rail including clasps is preferably formed entirely of metal. However, part or all of the rail including the clasps may be replaced by other material, such as plastics. When made of metal, the end closure 46 of the rail is preferably integral with the cover 4. By providing appendages on each end of the cover 4 of configuration corresponding to the cross-section of the channel 2 and bending these appendages at right angles to the cover 4, the end closure will rest between the channel 2 and the cover 4 and provide a neat finish to the rail.

In lieu of the bores 24 in the side 26 of the channel '-2, indentations or other form of recess for receiving the protuberances may be substituted.

My invention is also adapted for the use of channels having cross-sections of other congurations than that shown in the drawing; for example, arcs, undulations, etc.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth in the foregoing examples which should be construed as illustrative and not by way of limitation, and in view of the numerous lnodications which may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and Scope of this invention, it is desired that only such limitations be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a rail for a Venetian blind, an elongated channel, a cover connected to said channel and a fastening plate for holding tapes carried by the blind securely to the rail, said fastening plate having a cross-section closely conforming to the Aouter contour of the channel, said plate having a plurality of hooks at one end and a plurality of inner protuberances near the other end and said plate having an intermediate raised portion between lower side portions, the lower side portions being adapted for contact with the channel when the plate is in fastening position and the raised portion being spaced from the channel when the plate is in said fastening position in' amount to receive and hold fast the tapes carried by the blind, and said channel having openings on one side to receive the hooks on said plate when the plate is in fastening position.

2. In a rail for a Venetian blind, an elongated channel, a cover connected to said channel and a fastening plate for holding tapes carried by the blind securely to the rail, said fastening plate having a cross-section closely conforming to the outer contour of the channel, said plate having a plurality of hooks at one end and a plurality of inner protuberances near the other end and said plate having an intermediate raised portion between lower side portions, the lower side portions being adapted for contact with the channel when the plate is in fastening position and the raised portion being spaced from the channel when the plate is in said fastening position in amount to receive and hold fast the tapes carried by the blind, and said channel having openings on one side to receive the hooks on said plate and openings on the other side to receive the protuberances on said plate when the plate is in fastening position.

3. In a rail for a Venetian blind, an elongated channel, a cover connected to said channel. and:I a fastening plate for holding tapes carried by@ the blind securely to the rail, said fastening plate having a cross-section closely conforming to the outer contour of the channel, said plate having an intermediate raised portion between lower side portions, the lower side portions being adapted for contact with the channel when the plate is in fastening position and the raised portion being spaced from the channel when the plate is in said fastening position in amount to receive and hold fast the tapes carried by the blind, and said plate having a hook on each lower side portion at one end and a protuberance on each lower side portion near the other end, and said channel having openings on one side to receive the hooks on said plate when the plate is in fastening position.

4. In a rail for a Venetian blind, an elongated channel, a cover connected to said channel and a fastening plate for holding tapes carried by the blind securely to the rail, said fastening plate having a cross-section closely conforming to the outer contour of the channel, said plate having an intermediate raised portion between lower side portions, the lower side portions being adapted for contact with the channel when the plate is in fastening position and the raised portion being spaced from the channel when the plate is in said fastening position in amount to receive and hold fast the tapes carried by the blind, and said plate having a hook on each lower side portion at one end and a protuberance on each lower side portion near the other end, and said channel having openings on one side to receive the hooks on said plate and openings on the other side to receive the protuberances on said plate when the plate is in fastening position. HARRY S. ROSENBAUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,079,852 Grassby, Jr May 11, 1937 2,260,726 Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,391,904 Junkunc Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,109 Great Britain June 25, 1898 

